Scoring device



June 18 19460 C. HATHAWAY SCORING DEVICE Filed April 7, 1944 m m m m Patented June 18, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

ing device which combines in a novel and eiiective manner means for tabulating and registering the number of strokes hole-by-hole, and means for registering the total number of strokes taken, both combined in a unitary structure in a novel arrangement which is particularly eiil cient in the use of space.

Various additional objects, as well as the salient features of the invention, will be understood from the following detailed description of certain present illustrative embodiments thereof, and in which. reference is made to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is. a front face view oi one side of an embodiment of the invention, the reverse face being understood to be similar excepting that the numerals around the rim of the device run from 51 to 1.00 rather than from 1 to 50;.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig; 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a modification;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. i, but showing a modification, the indicator being shown, in section;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing another modification;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. l,

but showing a further modification; and

Fig. 8 is a detail section taken on line 8--8 of Fig. 7.

preferably a substantial percentage of the diam- In Figs. 13 of the drawing which shows one illustrative embodiment of the invention, numeral I0 designates an oblong card having rounded corners Illa of substantial radius of curvature; This card In is enclosed between two sheets H and I2 of transparent plastic, Celluloid or the like, each preferably formed with a. half-round marginal bead I3, which together define a track or head I4 of substantially cylindrical cross-section for a later described indicator or slider H5. The inner boundary of this track I4 is immediately at the margin of the card 10, and the beads I3 are formed to engage one another and so enclose the card. In other words, the card is this action, narrow slots 2211 are preferably.

recessed into the opposed faces of the two sheets II and 12, in the manner appearing in Fig. The beads may be secured and sealed to one another by any suitable adhesive; for instance, they may be cemented with acetone. And they may be accurately positioned with reference to one another by means of integral dowel pins l8 and sockets ll, or by any other suitable means.

Each of the sheets II and I2 has a rectangular raised area 20, such that there is a relatively fiat rectangular enclosure space 2! between each face of the card I!) and the opposed transparent sheet II or 2 as the case may be. Each of these raised rectangular areas accommodates plurality of hole-by-hole tabulating means, several forms of which will be mentioned, while the later described slider cooperating with the peripheral bead 54 serves as a totalizer. In the preferred embodiment of Figs. 1-3, a plurality of nine parallel transverse slots 22 are formed in the rectangular sheet area 2B of each of sheets H and I2, and for indexing purposes each of these slots is, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of opposed arcuate enlargements, indentations, or pockets 23. As here shown, there are nine of such pairs of indentations, though this is of course not to be regarded as limitative.

Received in each of the slots 22 is the reduced cylindrical shank 25 of an indicator button 26 which may be formed of plastic, hard rubber, or any suitable material. These buttons have flat bases 2! resting on and slidable across the faces of the card, and suitable beads 28 by which they may be conveniently manipulated with the fingers. The shanks 25 of the buttons are adapted to be received nicely in the successive pairs of pockets or indentations 23. The slot width is eter of a button shank, for instance, about so that if the material of the transparent sheet in which the slots 22 are formed is somewhat elastic or resilient, and adapted to expand and contract slightly, the button can readily be forced along the slot from one pair of indentations to the next by virtue of a slight give of the surrounding material of the transparent sheet.

In order to enhance the yieldability of the transparent sheets to more readily accommodate formed between the slots 22, thereby providing somewhat elastic pairs of transverse straps 24,

along opposed edges of which are the aforementioned indentations.

Assuming use of the device for scoring a golf game, suitable numerals from 1 to "9, may be printed on the card I in the spaces defined by the successive pairs of indentations 23, while larger numerals from 1 to "9 may be printed in a vertical row on one face of the card opposite successive slots 22, it being understood that numerals 10 to "18 will be printed in corresponding vertical positions on the reverse face of the card. These numerals, as well as any other data printed on the card, are of course readily visible through the transparent sheet.

It Will be understood that the successive slots 22 designated by the large numeral l to "9 are used successively for scoring the strokes taken on the first nine holes of the game, and that the slots 22 on the reverse face are for scoring the second nine holes. At the beginning of the game, the scoring or indicator buttons 26 are all moved over to the left, a to the positions shown in slots 4 to 9 in Fig, 1. Beginning with the top button, they are moved one space toward the right for each stroke taken. For example, Fig. 1 shows the button in the 1 slot to have been moved to the 4 position, indicating four strokes for the first hole. When the game has been completed, the buttons will obviously indicate the number of strokes taken on each of th eighteen holes.

A modification consists in forming the buttons 26 or some suitable compressible or deformable material, as soft rubber, such that they may be moved along the slots 22 between successive pairs of indentations Without expansion of the slots, merely by virtue of the fact that the shank of the buttons will flatten to accommodate themselves to the slot width.

A totalizer is also embodied in the device, and comprises the aforementioned slider element l5, which is in the form of a generally C-shaped clip, preferably formed of plastic or the like, engaging over the head 14 and slidable therealong entirely around the device. Each arm of this clip terminates in a pointer 30, which travels along a row or band of numerals 3| inscribed upon the marginal area of the card Hi, just inside the bead M, and of course outside the rectangular area occupied by the slots 22 and buttons 25, These numerals run from 1 to 50 on one face of the card, and they will be understood to run from 51 to 100 on the opposite face oi the card. Having reached the 50 position on the first face of the card. the card is reversed, the scale being so arranged that the next movement of the slider carries it to the 51 position of the 51 to 100 scale, which is accordingl thereafter used.

The slider or indicator l rides easily along the bead l4, and around the relatively broad turns at the corners. The buttons 26 move easily from pocket to Pocket along the slots 22, but are yieldingly, or resiliently, resisted in such movement so that when positioned in any given pocket, they are not subject to accidental displacement.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a slight modification, in that the bead, here designated by numeral l 4a, is hollow, being formed of the sheet material of which the balance of the sheets H and I2 are formed. To secure the device in assembly, suitable fasteners, such as grommets 40, may be employed,

Fig. 5 shows a modification of the slider-carrying bead designated in this instance by numeral MD, to provide for indexing the slider. This bead has spaced notches 42, into which the correspondingly spaced slightly inwardly projecting edges 43 of slider l5?) are adapted to be received when the slider is in indicating position opposite a given numeral. B this means the slider may be yieldingly restrained against accidental displacement, while at the same time there is no such resistance to movement as will interfere with the facile manipulation of the device.

Fig. 6 shows a further modification, in which the bead is formed opposite each numeral with a slight concavity 45, into which a corresponding convexity 46 on the slider is adapted to be received or seated. The slight interlock so provided does not interfere with eas manipulation. but again creates suificient opposition to movement that accidental displacement will not occur. It will, of course, be evident that either of the indexing arrangements of Figs. 5 and 6 may be used on the device of Fig. 1.

Figs. 7 and 8 show a further modification, wherein an indicator slider and indexing arrangement similar to that used around the periphery of the device is employed for the transverse slots, indicated in this instance by numerals 22c in plastic sheets Ho and lie. Members in Fi s- 7 and 8 corresponding to members in Figs. 1-3 are identified by similar reference numerals, but with the subletter c annexed. Along one edge of each slot 22c is formed a half-round bead 50, adapted to carry indicator clips or sliders 5|, of the nature clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The sliders 5! may have indicator marks, such as 52, and internal edges 53 engageable with bead notches 54 for indexing purposes. The sliders may also have flat bases 55 slidable on the faces of the card Inc.

The scoring device as described is simple and inexpensive, compact, convenient to carry, durable and easy to use. The hole-by-hole indicator is combined in a unitary structure, with great efficiency in use of space, and in a novel and effective manner, with a unique totalizer device, and the whole provides a novel, convenient and easily operable golf scoring device.

The drawing and description are, of ourse, to be understood as merely illustrative of, rather than restrictive on, the invention, as various changes in design, structure and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, or of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a sheet having a plurality of parallel, parallel-sided slots, at least one definin edge of each slot being formed with a series of spaced indentations, an indicator element having a portion of slightly greater thickness than said slot disposed within each of said slots, said indicator being adapted to be lodged in said indentations against accidental displacement along said slot, and a slit in said sheet between and parallel to the members of each pair of adjacent slots whereby sufiicient resilient yieldability is impartedto the sides of said slots that the indicators may be moved therein.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pack of objects including a pair of parallel sheets secured edge to edge, said sheets having rounded corners, of substantial ra dius of curvature, a marginal bead around the periphery of said pack, an indicator clip engaging over and slidable along said bead entirely around said pack, and coacting indexing formations on said bead and indicator clip.

3. In a device of a character described, the combination of a sheet having a parallel-sided slot, at least one defining edge of said slot being formed with a series of spaced indentations, an

indicator having a portion of greater thickness least one defining edge of each slot being formed with a series of spaced indentations, an indicator element having a portion of greater thickness than the width of said slot disposed within each of said slots, said indicator being adapted to be lodged in said indentations against accidental displacement along said slot, the slots being so spaced and the material of the sheet being of such a resilient characteristic that the material between the slots may give, when the indicator is moved along the slot.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4, wherein the portion of said indicator element disposed within said slot is resiliently compressible to aid in passage of the indicator element along the slot.

CHESTER A. HATHAWAY. 

